The Australian All Schools Championships is one of two competitions at the forefront of the national pathway for secondary school-aged students. The other competition is the Australian Junior Athletics Championships which will be held in Sydney from 14-18 March 2018.

As one of the pinnacle junior events in Australia, the Australian All Schools Championships will see athletes from all Australian States and Territories compete in a team based competition with the focus placed on accumulating points for their State or Territory as well as chasing the coveted title of national champion. The 2017 Australian All Schools will be held in Adelaide, South Australia from 8 – 10 December 2017.

The competition format for the Australian All Schools is a State vs State point score competition conducted over three days. The WA Team will be aiming to retain the Small State Point Score Team Trophy that we won in 2015 and 2016.

The selection event for the WA State Team is the 2017 Go for 2&5 WA All Schools Championships to be held at the WA Athletics Stadium from 27-29 October 2017.

2017 Australian All Schools Selection Policy (WA):

Athletics WA will select a maximum of the two best athletes per event in the U14 age group, and a maximum of the three best athletes per event in the U16* & U18* age groups. *When selecting 3 athletes in the U16 and U18 age groups, at least one athlete must be U15 or U17 respectively.

Athletics WA will select a maximum of the two best Para-athletes per event in the U16 and U18 age groups for Para events.

Only athletes who compete at the 2017 Go for 2&5 WA All Schools Championships (selection event) and meet the selection criteria outlined above will be selected.

Age is determined as at 31 December 2017 - Under 14: athletes must not have their 14th birthday on or before 31 December 2017

(i.e. must be born in 2004 or 2005)- Under 16: athletes must not have their 16th birthday on or before 31 December 2017

(i.e. must be born in 2002 or later) - Under 18: athletes must not have their 18th birthday on or before 31 December 2017

(i.e. must be born in 2000 or later)

Athletes MUST turn 12 (attending either Primary or Secondary School) on or before 31 December 2017 in order to compete in these Championships.

Athletes must be turning 14 in the year of competition to compete in the 2000m Steeplechase.

Athletes may enter the same event in more than one age group, providing they are age eligible. There is not a maximum number of events an athlete can enter.

Athletes may compete in any relay event provided that they are age eligible as at the 31 December 2017.

As this is a team event and WA will be vying for the Small State Trophy that we won in 2015 and 2016, athletes may be required to compete in events in addition to what they have qualified for, in order to maximise the team’s point score. Athletics WA will select at least one representative in each event.

Para-athletes:

Para-athletes (athletes with a disability) must have a valid national classification to compete. A National Physical classification opportunity is available in Perth on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 October 2017.

State Relays:

Athletics WA Team Management will select the fastest combination of available athletes for state relay squads. Up to 6 athletes may be named in each squad. Athletes selected in the state relay squad must be selected to compete in at least one individual event. Athletics WA will confirm members of the relay squad as soon as possible after the selection trial (Go for 2&5 WA All Schools on 27-29 October) and the final selection and running order of each relay team (4 athletes) will be made on the day of each relay. Athletes may compete in any relay event provided that they are age eligible as at the 31st December 2017.

Online Entries:

WA Team registrations will only be accepted via the online portal. Entries for automatically selected athletes will open at 7:00am on Monday 30 October and close at 11:59pm on Tuesday 31 October. Entries for “roll down” positions will open at 9:00am Wednesday 1 November and close ay 11:00am on Thursday 2 November. The final WA State Team will be announced after 12pm on Friday 3 November. Athletics WA submit all entries to Athletics Australia. To register for the WA Team, click here:

Athletics WA will charge each athlete that attends the 2017 Australian All Schools Competition a levy that includes team management and access to the Team Physiotherapists.

Team Travel Options:

There are two options by which athletes can participate in the 2017 Australian All Schools Championships:

Athletics WA Team Athlete:

·This option is provided for those athletes travelling with Athletics WA Team Management. You are responsible for booking and paying for your flights as listed below. Athletics WA Managers and Coaches will travel on these flights.

·Athletics WA will process your event entries, provide team management on competition days, access to the Team Physiotherapists, and provide 24-hour supervision.

·Accommodation, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and ground transportation will be organised and provided for the team.

·An athlete levy of $690 and entry fee of $30 applies (TOTAL = $720). This levy does not include flights to Adelaide or the AWA State Team uniform.

WA Independent athlete:

·This option is provided for those athletes travelling with their family, coach, club or school.

·You must organise and pay for your own flights, accommodation, meals, ground transport and AWA State Team uniforms.

·Athletics WA will process your event entries, provide team management on competition days, and access to the Team Physiotherapists.

·An athlete levy of $150 and entry fee of $30 applies (TOTAL = $180). This levy does not include flights, accommodation, AWA State Team Uniform.

All athletes will represent Athletics WA and will adhere to the Athletics WA Code of Conduct.

Athletics WA Team Accommodation:

Accommodation has been booked for a maximum of 100 Athletics WA Team Athletes and Team Staff at St. Ann’s College, North Adelaide. St. Ann’s is a residential college for students attending The University of Adelaide, The Flinders University of South Australia and University of South Australia. Visit the St. Ann’s website: http://www.stannscollege.edu.au/home

Spaces for Athletics WA Team Athletes will be allocated on a first-in first-served basis via the online registration process. If you intend to stay with the Athletics WA Team, we recommend you register online when team registration opens at 7:00am on Monday 30 October 2017.

Each athlete will be accommodated in a single room, with a single bed, desk, wardrobe and own private ensuite (bathroom and shower). Rooms have all linen (sheets & towel) supplied, ensuite bathroom, and air conditioning. There are common rooms (TV/DVD), coin-operated laundries and a kitchen in each corridor (fridge, microwave and basic equipment for making snacks and hot drinks only). There is a YouTube clip of St. Ann’s here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYvsPnppLtY

Meals:

Breakfasts and dinners for Team Athletes will be catered for at St. Ann’s College. If you have special dietary requirements, you must advise us when you register online. Meals will be served at the St. Ann’s Dining Hall at allocated times. Athletics WA uniform must be worn at all times in the dining hall.

Dining Hours: Breakfast 7:30am – 8:30am and Dinner: 5:30pm – 6:00pm

During competition days, packed lunches will be collected at the stadium. Alternative meal arrangements will be made for athletes who have a clash with competition and meal times listed above.

Athletes are also encouraged to bring along additional snacks, competition drinks and snacks, and any other food that is deemed necessary to ensure peak performance. Stadium canteen facilities will be in operation for the duration of the Championships (own cost). Dinner on Sunday evening will be at the airport (bring money to purchase dinner).

Flights:

Athletes travelling with the Athletics WA Team are required to book and pay for their own flights as follows:

Depart Perth, Thursday 7 December 2017

Qantas QF668: Depart Perth 8:00am, Arrive Adelaide 1:20pm or

Virgin VA714: Depart Perth 8:10am, Arrive Adelaide 1:30pm

or

Qantas QF586: Depart Perth 9:00am, Arrive Adelaide 2:20pm

Depart Adelaide, Sunday 10 December 2017

Qantas QF599: Depart Adelaide 8:00pm, Arrive Perth 8:50pm

or

Virgin VA723: Depart Adelaide 8:25pm, Arrive Perth 9:20pm

WA Team Managers and Team Coaches will only be travelling on the above flights.

WA Independent Athletes travelling with their family, coach, club or school are free to select their own flights and travel dates and are encouraged to select flights other than the team flights selected above if possible, due to limited availability.

Ground Transport:

Team buses have been arranged to transport athletes from the team accommodation and the competition venue. Airport transfers in Adelaide have been arranged to meet the above flights and transport the team to the team accommodation.

Spending Money:

Athletes are encouraged to bring a small amount of spending money for official Athletics Australia merchandise, souvenirs, snacks, shopping and dinner on Sunday evening at Adelaide Airport. Official Australian All Schools merchandise will be available for purchase online and at the merchandise stall during the championships.

The deadline for ordering uniforms online is strictly 4pm on Thursday 2 November 2017. This will ensure production and delivery prior to the Australian All Schools Championships.

Compulsory Athletics WA competition uniform items are:

·2017 Athletics WA singlet or crop top;

·2017 Athletics WA shorts or briefs.

Athletes must wear this new range of uniform in competition.

As well as the new competition uniform, a large range of the new non-competition uniform items have been designed and are available for purchase including:

·T-shirts

·Polo shirts

·Crew sweatshirts

·Hoodies

·Wet weather track suits

·Puffer vests

·Fleece tracksuit pants

·Casual shorts

With the transition to the new uniform, athletes may wear the old non-competition items (e.g. Athletics WA tracksuits and polos) for the 2017 Australian All Schools, however, the new competition uniform above must be worn in competition.

Note that the official Athletics WA customised 2XU compression gear may be worn as official competition uniform.

The Local Sporting Champions program is an Australian Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance for young people aged 12-18 towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing, coaching or officiating at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state, national or international sporting championships or a School Sport Australia state or national championships. Visit http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/local_sporting_champions for further information.

Local Council:

Funding may be available from your local council. Visit your council’s relevant website for information about support.

Team Information Session:

Athletes who are interested in travelling to the Australian All Schools in Adelaide are encouraged to attend the information session with their parents and/or coaches.

Date: Saturday 28 October 2017

Time: 4:00pm – 4:30pm

Venue: Fred Napier Room, under the grandstand at the WA Athletics Stadium

This session will provide an overview of the touring team arrangements and parents will be able to ask questions about the team. A small number of competition uniforms will be available to purchase at this session.

Australian Schools Knockout Final:

Athletics WA does not coordinate the Australian Schools Knockout Teams that compete on Monday 11 December. Please contact your school directly for information about the Australian Schools Knockout Final.

In Adelaide:

The Technical Meeting will be held at 9:00am on Friday 8 December in Adelaide and AWA Team Managers will attend this session. Starting heights, late withdrawals and other technical information will be confirmed at this meeting. Competition bibs, pins, and athlete entry passes will be collected by Team Management at this technical meeting and will be distributed First aid will be onsite for the duration of the event.

Spectator (e.g. family) tickets will be available for purchase online prior to the 2017 Australian All Schools in Adelaide and at the gate. Further information will be on the Athletics Australia website. Athletes will receive entry passes for competition days so athletes will NOT have to purchase entry tickets.

Further information:

Information about the 2017 Australian All Schools Championships will be available at the medal presentation area during the Go for 2 & 5 WA All Schools Championships or from www.waathletics.org.au.

Contact the Athletics WA Office directly on (08) 6272 0480 during business hours if you have any queries.